Obituaries

Jack Brown
Services for Jasper D. “Jack” Brown, 86, of Mabank, were held June 13, 2012, at Hilliard Funeral Home in Van.
Grave side service was held at New Harmony Cemetery in Van Zandt County.
Brown was born July 6, 1925, in Lorraine, to Annie M. Johns and Joseph Brown, and died June 10, 2012.
He had been a resident of Mabank for five years, formerly living in Palestine and Edom.
He joined the U.S. Army Nov. 3, 1943, serving in the 104th Infantry Division, called the Timberwolves, who were famous for nighttime fighting.
He was part of the 415th Regiment, Company G, Weapons Platoon and Mortar Squad, and was honorably discharged Nov. 6, 1945.
He worked for Halliburton, before owning his own trucking business. He was a member of Turner Baptist Church in Wills Point and was a member of the Masonic Lodge.
He was preceded in death by his parents, son David Brown, and his first wife, Ada Mae Brown.
Survivors include his wife, Irene Brown, of Mabank; children Delores Brown and husband Paul of Midland, and Ken Brown and wife Ellen of Arlington; brother Leonard Brown and wife Margie of Canton; four grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; six step-great-grandchildren; and 11 step-great-great-grandchildren.

Charles Griffin
Services for Charles “Lester” Griffin, 86, of Mabank, were held June 9, 2012, at Eubank Cedar Creek Memorial Chapel, with Reverend Brent Tucker officiating. Interment followed at Oaklawn Cemetery which included a moving military service with Navy personnel playing Taps and presenting the folded flag to his wife.
Griffin was born July 31, 1925, near Mabank, to Nettie Hutcherson and Claude Griffin and died June 6, 2012.
He was Baptist by faith and delivered groceries for the Mabank Grocery store as a young man.
After serving three years as a Seaman First Class in the United States Navy, he settled in Dallas and married Betty JoAnn Mangan in 1947.
He continued in the grocery business working for Tom Thumb then as a food broker with W. L. Gordon Company and Adams Extract.
He enjoyed dancing, listening to classic country music, and taught each of his daughters to dance by having them stand on his feet.
He also enjoyed fishing and taught his sons to hunt and fish.
After raising their five children in Dallas, the couple returned to Mabank, where they owned and operated Hometown Grocery on Market Street from 1983 to 1993.
He was an avid Dallas Cowboys and Texas Ranger fan, and a true Mabank Panther football fan.
He missed graduating from high school due to his enlistment in the United States Navy during World War II.
A few years ago, the United States Armed Services, United States Navy and Mabank High School, held a special ceremony honoring him for his commitment to our country and awarded him a high school diploma.
He and his wife celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in May.
He was preceded in death by his parents, son Denny Charles Griffin, and sister Hazel Hillger.
Survivors include his wife, Jo Griffin, of Mabank; children Paula Harper and husband Lee of Murphy, John Jay Griffin and wife Kim of Canton, Tony Gray of Mabank, LeAnn Pickitt and husband Pat of Gilmer; sister Claudine Goodwin and husband Jim of Dallas; 16 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.
Pallbearers were John Wayne Griffin, Mark Forehand, Charles Weston Roach, Jacob Vance Broussard, Bryce Griffin Roach, Brady Luke Griffin, Paul Wayne Hutcherson and Perry Don Hutcherson.
Honorary pallbearers were Jason Charles Griffin, Christopher Spruill and Tony Lee.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org.
A personal tribute may be posted online at www.eubankcedarcreek.com.

Faye Paris
Services for Faye Paris, 85, of Kemp, were held June 13, 2012, at First Baptist Church in Mabank under the direction of Eubank Cedar Creek Funeral Home in Mabank.
Paris was born March 6, 1927, to Fredna and Truman Graves and died  June 10, 2012. 
She graduated from North Dallas High School, in 1944, and worked as an executive secretary.
She enjoyed her friends at church, golfing at Cedar Creek Country Club and serving as president of the Women‘s Professinal Golf Association.
She enjoyed working crossword puzzles and email with friends and family.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ewing “Lefty” Paris, son Butch, daughter Pamela, and her parents.
Survivors include her son Rick Paris and wife Karen; grandchildren Robyn and Brad Paris and Kristen and Tim Slaughter; great-grandchildren Cleo and Barrett Slaughter, Avery and Jack Paris; sister Patty Oliver; brother Gene Graves; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Intercessory Prayer Ministry, First Baptist Church, Mabank.
A personal tribute may be posted online at www.eubankcedarcreek.com.

Bobby Callen
Services for Bobby Allen Callen, 70, will be held at a later date.
Callen passed away on Monday, June 11, 2012 in Weatherford, Texas. A Celebration of life will be held at a later date.
Callen was born Oct. 19, 1941, in Waco, to Leola Pope and Owen Callen and died June 11, 2012.
He served in the United States Army in the late 1950s. He attended Christ for the Nations in Dallas and founded Covenant Word Fellowship Church at Cedar Creek Lake and served as Pastor at Shiloh Christian Center at Cedar Creek Lake.
He was known for being a selfless person.
Survivors include his wife, Cynthia Callen, of Weatherford; daughters Kelly Brooks and husband Stuart of Fort Worth, Tracey Greenwood of Hawkins, and Joivah Francis and husband Matt of Wellington, Kan.; sons Robert David Callen and wife Tammy of Plano, and Adam Glenn Skinner of Fort Worth; eight grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; sister Melba Callen of Weatherford; brother James Callen of Talihina, Okla.

Mavis Earl
Services for Mavis LaJoy Adams Earl “Granny,” 74, of Kemp, were held June 12, 2012, at Anderson Clayton Bros. Funeral Home in Kemp.
Earl was born Sept. 2, 1937, in Grand Saline, to Anna Hollis and Roy Adams and died June 8, 2012.
She lived in Kemp for the last 40 years.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Survivors include her husband of 59 years, Reese Earl, children Teresa May of Talty, Terry Wacasey of Mt. Pleasant, Leslie Earl of Kemp, and Veronica Gunderson of Forney; grandchildren Melanie Newman, Emily Bass, Doug May, Crystal Olson, Nicholas Earl, Ashley Shankle, Laci Weldon, and Daniel and Seth Gunderson; great-grandchildren Natalie Richardson, Liberty, Ryan and Grant Bass, Raylee and Colten Earl, Lilly and Cain May, Kaylee and Heavenly Weldon, Jolie, Riley and David Shankle, and Kason Olson; sisters Genieve Parrot of Mineola and Glenda Ishmeal of Oak Cliff; brothers Marty Hollis of Athens and James Hollis of Mineola; many nieces and nephews; and dear friend of 50 plus years, Joyce May, of Mesquite.
Condolences may be posted online at www.andersonclaytonbros.com.

Alyse Smith
Services for Alyse Joy Smith, 88, of Mabank, were held June 9, 2012, at Davis-Greenlawn Funeral Chapel in Rosenberg with Pastor Zach Nicholson officiating. Interment followed in Oak Lawn Cemetery in Mabank.
Smith was born Sept. 8, 1923 and died June 8, 2012, in Richmond.
She was an elementary school teacher in Mabank for many years.
Survivors include her son, Mike Smith, of Rosenberg; grandsons Nathan Michael Smith of Katy and Joel Wayne Helmke of Clear Lake; great-grandchildren Lacy Nicole, Jamie Leigh and Dillon James Smith of Katy and Jacqueline Paige and August Freeman Helmke of Clear Lake; and other relatives and friends.

Thomas Allen
Services for Rev. Thomas Burns “Tommy” Allen, 85, of Gun Barrel City, were held June 15, 2012, at Oaklawn Cemetery in Mabank under the direction of Moorhead Epps Funeral Home in Gun Barrel City.
Allen was born May 18, 1927, in Hugo, Okla., to Leslie Simon and Louis Gesslen Allen and died June 9, 2012, in Athens.
He was an ordained Pentecostal minister and a retired union sheet metal mechanic, who worked on buildings in Dallas, the most recognizable being the one with the “X.”
He was preceded in death by his sons, Jimmy L. Allen and Larry T. Allen Sr., and daughter Brenda Joyce Dewbre.
Survivors include his wife, Virginia Allen; son R.L. Allen; daughter Anglia Dianne Beckham; brother Rev. Charles Gayland Allen; 11 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and numerous other family members and many friends.